ParalympicsGB beat Australia in women’s wheelchair basketball for the first time at a Paralympic Games as they booked a spot in the Tokyo 2020 quarter-finals.
Australia had come out on top when the teams met at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 but it was fifth time lucky for Great Britain as they recorded a dominant 75-38 triumph.
Both teams headed into the contest without a
win at these Games but with four of the five sides in Group A qualifying for the knockout stage, it became a winner-takes-all clash for a quarter-final spot.
And although they had struggled in three prior defeats this week, ParalympicsGB found their shooting rhythm from the off at the Ariake Arena – scoring 16 points within the first seven minutes of play.
A 20-6 advantage at the end of the first quarter became 40-18 by half-time and, after a 23-point explosion in the third quarter, Great Britain cruised to victory in the final period.
Laurie Williams top scored with 18 points and Helen Freeman notched a double-double after collecting ten rebounds and making ten assists, as a quarter-final against Group A winners China on Tuesday now awaits.
Sophie Carrigill said: “I’m just so proud of this team. For all the adversity we’ve been through, not just the last three games but the whole 18 months, this build-up, we deserve that win.
“We’ve got ourselves a spot in the quarter-finals and it means the world. We’ve got a chance now to go and do something again, that we’ve never done before – and keep winning and keep winning.
“We’re building now and it just feels so exciting. I’m proud of every single one of them.”
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